Effects of protein source on nitrogen metabolism in continuous culture and intestinal digestion in vitro

Eight dual flow continuous culture fermenters were used in four replicated periods to study the effects of protein supplements on ruminal fermentation and CP digestion. A basal diet was supplemented with isonitrogenous amounts of urea and tryptone (control; CTRL), soybean meal (SBM), lignosulfonate-treated SBM (LSBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), blood meal (BM), hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM), fish meal (FM), or meat and bone meal (MBM). Digestion of DM, OM, and carbohydrates was not affected by treatment. Ammonia N concentration was highest (P < .05) for CTRL and lowest (P < .05) for LSBM, CGM, BM, HFM, and FM. Nonammonia N flow was lowest (P < .05) for CTRL. Dietary N flow was lowest (P < .05) for CTRL, intermediate for SBM, and highest (P < .05) for LSBM, CGM, BM, HFM, FM, and MBM. Total N flow, bacterial N flow, and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis were not affected by treatment. Protein degradation was highest (P < .05) for CTRL. Flow of total amino acids (AA) was lowest (P < .05) for CTRL, SBM, and MBM. Diets containing BM provided the largest (P < .05) amounts of essential AA and lysine, and FM provided the largest (P < .05) amounts of methionine in fermenter effluent. Supplementation of diets with proteins low in ruminal degradability increased flows of nonammonia N, dietary N, and total and essential AA and modified the AA profile flowing out of fermenters.